BELIEFS
Committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ
But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. -1 Timothy 1:5
RESOURCES
What Is the Gospel?
The gospel is the good news of God’s grace invading the darkness of this world. It is the grand narrative of creation, fall, redemption and consummation ordained by God and orchestrated through the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. Christ’s crucifixion is the heart of the gospel. His resurrection is the power of the gospel. His ascension is the glory of the gospel.
Redeemer Church of South Hills is a church under the lordship of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we are committed to contending for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). The basic doctrines within the Redeemer Church of South Hills Statement of Faith represent what we believe to be core elements of biblical teaching.
God’s Word
Though all of God’s creation testifies to His infinite wisdom and power, our only certain source of knowledge about God is the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. In the Bible, God gives us a perfectly accurate, sufficient, inspired, inerrant, and authoritative revelation of His character, His nature, His plans, His acts, and His will for us. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
God’s Character & Nature
There is only one living and true God who is infinite, eternal, and unchanging; who is perfectly wise, powerful, holy, just, good, loving, and true; who is Triune, meaning that three (3) eternally distinct persons of equal power and glory – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – are one (1) God. (John 4:24; Psalm 90:2, 147:5; Exodus 34:6)
God’s Plans & Acts
God’s perfect and eternal plan to bring glory to His name encompasses everything that happens in time and space. In accordance with this plan, God created the universe in six (6) days, and governs His creation, sovereignly directs all things to their appointed end. (Acts 17:26; Isaiah 43:13; Genesis 1-2; Hebrews 11:3)
Our Creation
Of all the wonders God made, the most noble is the human person, whom He created in His own image, both male and female, each having a body and a soul. God gave us the responsibility of governing and caring for creation as His obedient servants. (Genesis 1:27-28; Colossians 3:10)
Our Fall Into Sin
Though created righteous, Adam and Eve were able to change, and fell to Satan’s temptation to be their own gods. Thus, they acquired for themselves and all their natural descendants, a morally corrupt nature inclined to rebellion and sin, and brought humanity under God’s curse, condemned to eternal punishment. Though we are restrained in this life from realizing the fullest potential of human depravity, sin taints every aspect of human nature. (Genesis 2:17, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12, 3:23, 6:23)
Our Salvation
Mercifully, God did not abandon all to suffer in hell. In eternity, He had determined to rescue and deliver from the curse a people of His own choosing. God promised Adam and Eve that He would send a Redeemer as one of their descendants who would bring salvation to all who place their trust in Him. (Genesis 3:15; Ephesians 1:4, 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10)
Two Natures, One Person
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity. To be our mediator with God, He humbled Himself by adding to His divine nature a human body and soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin, Mary. He continues forever to be both fully God and fully man in two (2) distinct natures and one (1) person. Christ is – and always will be – the unique incarnation of God, and the sole mediator between God and man. (Luke 1:31; Hebrews 2:14; 1 Timothy 2:5)
His Promised Coming
Prior to His incarnate ministry, Jesus was anticipated among God’s people by divine revelation in prophecies and types (that is, persons, offices, acts, and ceremonies that foreshadowed His redemptive work), so that Old Testament believers together with us are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus, the Messiah. Indeed, the central purpose of the entire Bible in both Old and New Testaments has always been to point sinners to Christ. (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 53; Luke 24:26-27, 44)
His Sinless Life
Though born without corruption of a sinful nature, Jesus lived life under the curse in full submission to the law and to His Father’s will. He was tempted in every way we are and is able to sympathize fully with the plight of sinners, though He Himself committed no sin. (Hebrews 2:14, 4:15)
His Death & Resurrection
Christ’s sinless life qualified Him to be our substitute, to suffer God’s wrath and die in the place of sinners, and enabled Him to exchange our guilt for His innocence. By raising Him to life on the third day, God vindicated Christ’s sacrifice on the cross as sufficient payment for all our sins. Every believer is assured, by Christ’s death and bodily resurrection, of God’s forgiveness and favor, of victory over death and hell, and of everlasting life. (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4,17; Luke 24)
His Reign & Promised Return
After His resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven, where God has exalted Him as Lord of all. He intercedes continually before God on behalf of His people, and administers the Holy Spirit to us for our spiritual conversion, direction, sustenance, and protection. He will return to judge the world and receive His people into eternal glory. (Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 7:25)
The Gospel of Salvation
All of us are born in sin and live in sin and fully deserve the coming wrath of God. Salvation from death to everlasting life is found in Jesus Christ alone. It cannot be earned. It is God’s gracious gift, freely offered to all through the proclamation of God’s Word, and received by faith alone. (John 14:6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:14-17)
Regeneration
Sinners remain helpless in a condition of spiritual rebellion, ignorance and death, unable and unwilling to avail themselves of the benefits of Christ’s redemptive work until the Holy Spirit is pleased to regenerate their hearts and so enable and incline them to respond to the gospel with faith and repentance. (Titus 3:5; Colossians 2:13; Ezekiel 36:26-27; 1 Peter 1:3)
Justification & Adoption
The moment we turn to Christ in sincere repentance and genuine faith, the guilt of our sin is removed, and we are accepted by God as righteous for the sake of Christ, and adopted as His children. (Romans 3:24, 5:19; Galatians 2:16, 4:4-7; 1 John 3:1; John 1:12)
Sanctification
Regeneration initiates a process of ‘sanctification’ in a believer’s life: the Holy Spirit liberates us from bondage to sin, and gives us the desire to live for God, and a measure of success in efforts made to replace sinful habits with obedience and trusting submission to God’s will, following the example of Christ. Though this process remains incomplete in every believer in this life prior to Christ’s return, and we continue to sin and require God’s forgiveness daily, the fault is our own since God faithfully offers us the power to resist temptation. Repentance and faith are not just a part of the Christian’s conversion, but characterize our daily walk with God. (Romans 6:12-14; Ephesians 4:24)
Perseverance & Glorification
Those whom God has appointed to receive eternal life in Christ and to whom He has given saving faith, He spiritually preserves through all circumstances and trials so that, when Christ returns, they may be found faithful. At that time, He will perfect our souls and glorify our bodies, thereby completely delivering us from sin and misery. (Philippians 1:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; John 10:27-30)
Universal
Those united to Christ by faith through the power of God’s Spirit are, by that same Spirit, united to true believers from every land and nation throughout every age in one church, which Christ redeemed with His own blood and calls His body, bride, and kingdom. (Ephesians 4:4-6)
Local
Believers are to join together in local congregations holding to sound biblical teaching to worship God, study His Word, minister Christ’s love and encouragement to one another, and reach others in their community with the gospel.
Government
Duly ordained elders lead the congregation by teaching the pure doctrine of God’s Word and administering the sacraments and discipline, thereby equipping the saints to do the work of ministry. (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9)
Duly ordained deacons set an example for the congregation by graciously administering the mercy of Christ among the needy and hurting. (1 Timothy 3:8-13; Acts 6:3)
Corporate Worship
On the first day of each week, the church commemorates and celebrates Christ’s resurrection by resting from their work, in keeping with the fourth commandment, and gathering together to worship God in accordance with His Word. (Matthew 28:1; Acts 2:1, 20:7)
The Sacraments – Baptism
Baptism is a sacrament instituted by Christ depicting spiritual cleansing and new life in Christ, by which professing believers are admitted into the fellowship of the church. Washing with water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit signifies an in-grafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of His grace. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38; Colossians 2:11-12)
Neither sacrament is beneficial apart from faith in Christ.
The Sacraments – The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament instituted by Christ in which Christ’s sacrifice for us is portrayed and our unity with Him and in Him is confirmed for our edification. The ordinance symbolizes the breaking of Christ’s body and the shedding of His blood for the forgiveness of sin. As we partake of the Lord’s Supper with an attitude of faith and self-examination, we remember and proclaim the death of Christ, receive spiritual nourishment for our souls, and signify our unity with other members of Christ’s body. (Mark 14:22-23; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
Communion
Christians are set apart in the world to enjoy the blessing and comfort of God’s fellowship. To nurture our communion with God we must give ourselves, individually and corporately in the church, to reading His Word, worshiping Him, and seeking His forgiveness, presence and power in prayer. (Ephesians 4:1-7, 17-24)
Obedience
Christians are set apart to obey God’s moral law out of love for Him and out of gratitude for His mercy and kindness. (John 14:21; Joshua 1:8)
Vocation
Christians are set apart to render wholehearted service to Christ and His kingdom in every circumstance, situation, and relationship in life. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Service
Christians are set apart to love and serve Christ’s people, using the particular gift each has received from God’s Spirit for the good of the whole body of believers. (1 Peter 4:10; Romans 12:6)
Evangelism
Christians are set apart to bear witness to Christ in word and deed, compassionately endeavoring to draw others to Him. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8)
Christ shall continue to reign in heaven, extending His Kingdom on earth and giving His people victory over Satan’s kingdom of darkness, until, at an appointed time known only to God, He shall return physically and visibly to usher in His Eternal Kingdom in its fullness. He shall at that time raise the dead and judge the world, sending the wicked to their place of eternal punishment, and glorifying all who have been made righteous in Him, so that we shall dwell with God forever in perfect peace and joy in a new heaven and a new earth. (Matthew 24:15-51; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Revelation)
Because each human person is uniquely created by God in His own image, every life is sacred, and must be treated with honor and dignity. This is true of all people, in every place, from the moment of conception until natural death (Psalm 139:13-16)
MARRIAGE, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY
Sin affects every sphere of human existence, and this includes sexuality. Because of man’s natural propensity towards sin, he will often experience strong desire towards sexual perversion. Thanks to God’s common grace, we still experience a multitude of blessings, one of which is marriage, which is to be defined solely as the covenantal union between one man and one woman, binding for life; this is the only context in which sexual expression is to occur. Therefore, any deviation from this design, including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, incest, bestiality, pedophilia, or use of pornography, is sinful and an offense against God. Furthermore, God as Creator has the sole authority to define mal and female, and to create individuals as either one or the other. Any attempt to alter this work of God is likewise sinful (Gen. 2:18-25, Mt. 19:4-9, Ex. 20:14, Rom. 1:26—27, 1 Cor. 6:9-10, 1 Tim. 1:9-10).
FINAL AUTHORITY IN FAITH AND LIFE
This statement of faith does not exhaust our beliefs. The Bible itself, which is the very Word of God, is authoritative and is alone sufficient to instruct all Christians in matters of both faith and life. Although God had ordained legitimate spheres of authority, including parents, elders, and civil magistrates, it is the Word of God which must be obeyed above all; any authority which contradicts or negates the Scripture is to be rejected (2 Tim. 3:16-17, Eph. 6:1-4, 1 Pet. 5:1-5, Rom. 13:1-7).
